At Least 12 US Marines Die in Ramadi Attack

 

 

Nick Simeone

 

Again Tuesday, U.S. forces in Baghdad battled militiamen loyal to Iraqi cleric Moktada al-Sadr, who is demanding occupation forces withdraw from populated areas. While his followers² are vowing³ to continue the fight, U.S. administrator⁴ in Iraq Paul Bremer is just as adamant⁵ that the cleric - branded an outlaw⁶ by the United States - will be arrested and tried for the murder of a rival Shi'ite figure a year ago. "I can assure you we will bring him to justice."

 

Battles also erupted between Shi'ite militias⁷ and U.S. forces in towns and cities in southern Iraq, unrest that threatens to open a new front in the U.S. led Iraqi occupation less than 90 days before sovereignty is set to be handed back to the Iraq people.

 

U.S. forces also began an operation Tuesday - code named Vigilant⁸ Resolve - in the town of Fallujah west of Baghdad. This American was among the columns of Marines involved in sealing off the Sunni stronghold as part of the hunt for those responsible for the deaths of four American civilians⁹ a week ago.

"We're going to find these terrorists and we're going to take care of the problem."

 

Defense¹⁰ Secretary Donald Rumsfeld confirmed the raid was under way, telling reporters the Marines know who they are looking for and that a number of people resisting arrest have already been killed.

 

"They have photographs of a good many people who were involved in the attacks against the individuals and they have been conducting raids in the city against high value targets. They've captured a number of people."

 

U.S. military commanders are now considering whether to ask for more troops to help put down what has been some of the worst violence across Iraq since the end of major combat operations nearly a year ago. And even though President Bush is sticking to the date of June 30 for returning sovereignty to the Iraqi people, others in Washington are beginning to question whether that date can hold if the current level of violence continues.

 

Baghdad [`bA^dAd] n. 巴格达（伊拉克首都）

militiamen [mi5liFEmen] n. 民兵

Iraqi [i5rB:ki] adj. 伊拉克的

cleric [5klerik] n. 牧师，传教士

occupation forces  占领军

adamant [5AdEmEnt] adj. 坚定的

outlaw [5autlC:] n. 歹徒，逃犯，丧失公权者

erupt [i5rQpt] vi. 爆发

militia¹ [mi5liFE]  n. 民兵

sovereignty [5sCvrinti] n. 主权

code [kEud] n. 代号

Vigilant Resolve  警惕决心

seal off  v. 把……封锁起来

Sunni [5suni:] n.（伊斯兰）逊尼派教徒

stronghold [5strRNhEJld] n. 要塞，据点

raid [reId] n. 袭击，搜捕

put down  v. 镇压

1 militia   

n.民兵，民兵组织

参考例句：

• First came the PLA men,then the people's militia.人民解放军走在前面，其次是民兵。
• There's a building guarded by the local militia at the corner of the street.街道拐角处有一幢由当地民兵团守卫的大楼。

2 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

3 vowing   

起誓，发誓（vow的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild its collapsed bridge. 布什总统承诺将帮助明尼阿波利斯重建坍塌的大桥。
• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild this collapse bridge. 布什总统发誓要帮助明尼阿波利斯重建起这座坍塌的桥梁。

4 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

5 adamant   

adj.坚硬的，固执的

参考例句：

• We are adamant on the building of a well-off society.在建设小康社会这一点上，我们是坚定不移的。
• Veronica was quite adamant that they should stay on.维罗妮卡坚信他们必须继续留下去。

6 outlaw   

n.歹徒，亡命之徒；vt.宣布…为不合法

参考例句：

• The outlaw hid out in the hills for several months.逃犯在山里隐藏了几个月。
• The outlaw has been caught.歹徒已被抓住了。

7 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网

8 vigilant   

adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的

参考例句：

• He has to learn how to remain vigilant through these long nights.他得学会如何在这漫长的黑夜里保持警觉。
• The dog kept a vigilant guard over the house.这只狗警醒地守护着这所房屋。

9 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

10 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。